Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt his side should have beaten Liverpool FC more comfortably than the 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

Wayne Rooney scored twice early in the second half to put the hosts in control before Luis Suarez pulled one back to set up a nervous finish.

United held on for the three points, although the match was overshadowed by Suarez’s refusal before kick-off to shake hands with Patrice Evra, with confrontations between both sets of players following at half-time and after the final whistle.

"I was disappointed it’s ended up 2-1," Ferguson said.

"Maybe we did tend to just try and play out the game, keep possession and not really threaten in the way we did before we got the goal.

"That’s the only fault I can find with the players because right through the team they played some fantastic football."

Manchester United might have taken the lead in the first half, but Paul Scholes’ header was well saved by goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Ferguson added: "I thought Danny Welbeck was terrific, particularly in the first half. Scholesy was unlucky with his header, the goalkeeper had a good save.

"I thought we were really well on top of the game. It’s just getting that goal and of course Wayne has scored and then two minutes later scored another one which was a great start to the second half for us."

Suarez halved the deficit 10 minutes from time and Ferguson admitted it was a nervous wait for the final whistle.

"Oh crikey me, I think my heart’s still out there," he said.

"It was nervy in the sense you were playing Liverpool and they’ve come back from 2-0 down to 2-1 and you know football, anything can happen."

Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish admitted Wayne Rooney’s brace just after the break all but killed of his side’s hopes.

"Obviously the goal goals coming as quick as they did made it very difficult for us to try and get anything from the game," he said.

"To the boys’ credit they got back and got a goal, but I think overall you could say they (United) were the better side. But you would expect them to be at home."